"What do you ask for this sketch?" said Reynolds to a dealer in old pictures and prints, as he was looking over his portfolio. The shrewd tradesman, observing from his manner that he had found a gem, quickly replied, "Twenty guineas, your honor." "Twenty pence, I suppose you mean." "No, sir; it is true I would have sold it for twenty pence this morning; but if you think it worth having, all the world will think it worth buying." Sir Joshua gave him his price. It was an exquisite drawing by Rubens.
REYNOLDS' MODESTY.
Sir Joshua Reynolds, like many other distinguished
artists, was never satisfied with his works, and
endeavored to practice his maxim, that "an artist
should endeavor to improve over his every performance."
When an eminent French painter was one
day praising the excellence of one of his pictures,
he said, "Ah! Monsieur, Je ne fais que des ebauches, des ebauches."—Alas! sir, I can only make sketches,
sketches.
REYNOLDS' GENEROSITY.
Sir Joshua Reynolds has been charged by his
enemies with avarice; but there are many instances
recorded which show that he possessed a noble and
generous heart.
